Antenna rotator



Dec. 23, 1958 N. V. DOYLE ANTENNA ROTATOR Filed Oct. 14, 1955 Fig.3

INVENTOR Norman V Doy/e ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,865,211 ANTENNA RorAroR- Norman V. Doyle, Marlin, Tex. Application October 14, 1955, Serial No. 540,535

3 Claims. (Cl. 74-89) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in antenna rotators.

One object of the invention is to provide improved means for rotating an antenna to adjusted positions from a remote point.

Another object is to provide an improved antenna rotator of relatively inexpensive, simplified, and rugged construction which is capable of being mounted on buildings, poles, towers or other elevated supports by unskilled persons and which may be manually operated from remote points by the average person without diculty.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved antenna rotator, ofthe character described, having reciprocal actuating means connected to helical means carried by the antenna for imparting rotation to the helical means and antenna upon relative reciprocal movement. Y

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is'a side elevational view of an antenna rotator constructed in accordance with the invention and mounted on a house,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the rotator,

Fig. 3 is a view, similar to Fig. 2, showing the antenna turned at a right angle by actuation of the rotator,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, Y

Fig. 5 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2,

Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse, vertical, sectional views, taken on the lines 7-7 and 8 8 of Fig. 5, showing the canting of the actuating means of the rotator.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the housing of an antenna rotator embodying the features of the invention and mounted on a mast or upright standard 11 for supporting a video or other antenna 12 by its depending stub mast 13. Although shown attached to a house or other building 14, it is obvious that the mast 11 may be mounted on or form a part of a pole, tower or other elevated support (not shown). Usually, the masts are tubular and formed of pipe. The housing 10 is in the form of an elongated, upright, rectangular box having three side walls 15 and upper and lower end or top and bottom walls 16 and 17. A flanged closure or lid 18 overlies the open side of the box-like housing and is fastened to the top and bottom walls by similar screws 19. For supporting the housing, spaced clamp brackets 20 are attached to one of the side walls 15 by transverse bolts 21 and nuts 22 and engage around the mast 11 (Figs. 2, 3 and 5).

The stub mast 13 extends downwardly into the upper portion of the housing and is journaled in a collar 23 carried by the top wall 16 of said housing. A partition 24 extends transversely across the upper medial portion of the housing and has a anged opening 25 for receiving the lower end of the stub mast. Asrshown most clearly in Figs. 4, a collar 26 is clamped on the lower extremity of the stub mast below the opening 25 for retaining said mast and preventing upward displacement thereof. The lower end of the stub mast is connected to and supported by a screw or helical member 27 extending longitudinally of the housing and having its lower extremity supported for rotation by a suitable bearing 28 mounted on the bottom wall 17. A slotted adapter or mounting pin 29 is `fixed to the upper end of the helical member by a transverse pin 30and has a press fit within the lower end of the stub mast (Figs. 4 and 6).

The helical member 27 is in the form of a Hat, twisted bar or strap having one complete revolution whereby its upper and lower ends are in complete alinement. For imparting rotation to the member so as to turn the antenna 12 and its stub mast 13, an actuating element 31 is provided and includes a substantially at arm or bar 32 extending transversely between opposed side walls 15 of the housing with its ends slidably confined within U-shaped guide or channel members 33 extending longitudinally of said side walls. Depending from the actuating arm or bar and secured thereto by a suitable screw and nut 34 is an upright rod 35 extending longitudinally of the housing and having its lower end projecting through the bottom wall 17 for connection with a cable or rope 36 by a suitable clevis 37. As shown in Fig. l, the cable 36 extends downwardly and may have its lower end extending into the interior of the building 14. A helical spring 38, having its upper end suitably fastened to the top wall 16, extends through the partition 24 and has its lower end attached to the transverse arm 32 of the actuating element 31 by an angle bracket 39 and the screw and nut 34 for urging said element upwardly.

As shown in Fig. 5, the actuating arm has an elongated, longitudinal opening or slot 40 in its medial portion and the twisted bar 27 extends therethrough. Preferably, the sides of the slot are relieved so that only the end portions 41 of said slot engage the edge portions of the twisted bar. ln order to reduce friction to a minimum and facilitate relative movement, the portions of the arm adjacent the ends of the slot 40 are inclined or canted complementary to the helix of the twisted bar as shown by the numeral 42 in Figs. 7 and 8. Due to such inclination or canting, the end portions 41 of the slot have inclined side walls substantially parallel to the helical surfaces .of the twisted bar. Manifestly,

, closer tolerances may be obtained by this construction so as to provide instant and constant rotation of the bar upon longitudinal reciprocation of the arm 32. Also, the close tolerance reduces rocking or vibration of the antenna by the wind, increases accuracy in orienting the antenna and reduces whip-lash due to momentum when rotation is halted.

Whenever it is desired to turn the antenna 12 from one position to another, the cable 36 is pulled so as to lower the actuating element 31 and its rod 35 and arm 32 (Fig. 3). Due to its helix, the bar 27 isrotated upon relative longitudinal movement of the actuating arm and is turned in one direction by downward movement and in the opposite direction by upwardmovement. Obviously, the spring 38 moves the actuating arm upwardly upon release of the cable'and coacts with said cable to hold the helical member and the antenna in adjusted positions. It is noted that all of the essential mechanism of the rotator is disposed within the housing so as to be protected from the weather. Since the helix ot' the member 27 is only one vcomplete revolution, no special connection need be provided for the usual lead 43. vItis readily Lapparent that the rotator is of simplified, rugged and linexpensive construction and that n0 particular skill is required to install and operate the same.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes 4in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the .details of the illustrated construction may be made, within thescope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire `to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. VAn antenna Vrotator including an upright housing, a twisted bar mounted in the homing for rotaicn relative thereto and having ccnnecticn with an antenna, an actuating vrod extending longitudinally within said housing, a transverse arm connected to the rod and having a complementary Vslot for slidable engagement by the bar, and opposed channel members extending longitudinally within said housing for slidably conning the ends of the arm to prevent rotation of said arm whereby said bar is rotated upon relative reciprocal movement of said rod and arm, the channel members and rod being in spaced parallel relation to said har.

2. An antenna rotator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the portions of the arm adjacent the ends of its slot are inclined complementary to the twist of the bar.

3. An antenna rotator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the portions of the arm adjacent the sides of its slot are relieved whereby only the end portions of the slot are engaged by the bar.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 867,063 Lillie Sept. 24, 1907 1,242,205 Knight Oct. 9, 1917 2,281,866 Williams May 5, 1942 2,601,193 `Wett1ey June 17, 1952 2,791,909 Rick May 14, 1957 

